Card index



E. THIEME, GEB. OVERHOFF QARD INDEX 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1934.

I Filed Feb. 10. 1952 March 27, 1934. a. THIEME, GEB. OVEYRHOFF 1,952,298

CARD INDEX Filed Feb. 10. 1932 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig; 7o.

OODCJ QDDDDQD QDQDQDQDOQD .7nventor: /Hehe, -Qerbf Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE CARD INDEX Erna Thieme, geboren Overhoif, Amsterdam- Oost, Netherlands Application February 10, 1932, Serial to. 592,154 In Germany February 12, 1930 2'7 Claims.

The invention relates to a card index in which that end of each card which is arranged in the card holder is folded, and the folded part of each card engages the folded part of an adjacent card.

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple construction ofsuch an index and so arrange the cards in the holder that it is impossible for a card or card container to fall out unobserved.

In a card index according to the invention, a rod or bar is movably mounted in the card carrier so that it can be inserted into the cards from,

the end of the card carrier nearest the user. To release the individual cards, it is unnecessary to handle the end of the card index furthest from the user, but to the contrary all manual manipulation can be effected on the end nearest the user.

Several modifications of the index according to the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an index constructed according to the invention. 1

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through an index according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan of the forward part of :a' card carrier according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a section along the lines IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of locking member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a locking member according to Figure 5 showing also the cards and carrier.

Figure '7 is a cross section through a further modification of a locking member, showing also the carrier and bar.

Figure 8 is a side view of one modification of the retaining bar.

Figure 9 is a side view showing the construction of the card nearest to the locking member.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a modified form of card.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of part of a modified form of card.

V Figure 12 is a perspective view of part of a further modification of the card. 1

Figure 13 is a plan view of a card as employed in connection with an index according to Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a section along the lines XiV- QV of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of two cards of which the folded parts are arranged one within the other.

Figure 16 is a section along the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15. 7

Cards 2 are arranged on a carrier 1, which may be constructed as a flat holder from sheet or pressed metal. These cards 2 are each provided with a folded part 3 which is connected with the card 2 by means of staples 4. The cards 2 have a crease 5 which may be slotted in orderto facilie tate the bending of the card. 7 A slot 6, through which a bar 7 can pass, is also formed in the crease 5. This slot extends to both sides of the bend, as shown in Figure 10, and is of rectangular form. It is to be noted that the staples 4 are spaced appreciably from the crease or fold 5 whereby the front edge of the fold of each card 2 may be engaged in the fold of the preceding card.

The folded part 3 of each card is somewhat narrower than the card itself and is guided at the sides by the bent over rims 8 and 9 of the carrler.

In order to prevent the cards being cut or torn by the rims, the rims 8 and 9 may advantageously be further bent over to form flanges 10. It is sufficient, however, in order to prevent this cutting, to provide the rims 8 and 9 with a suitable edge. The carrier 1 is further provided at its farther end with a bent over part 11, which may be formed separately and then connected with the carrier 1. A cover 12 is connectedby hinges to this bent over part 11. When the index is, not being used, the cover 12 lies over the cards and partly covers them. On the forward end of the card carrier 1 is a rim 13 in front of which a cylindrical rod 14 is mounted. The rim ,13 is provided with spaces in which sheets of paper or the like can be inserted for the identification of individual indexes. 1

A bar '7 is slidably mounted on the card carrier. A pin 16 engages with a slot 15 provided in the bar 7. The bar is thus guided by means of the pin 16. The pin 16 is advantageously mounted on a spring tongue 1'? which is fixed on a locking member 18. The'locking member 18 is utilized to hold the cards together in the carrier. For this purpose, the forward end of the locking member engages the first card between the folded part 3 and the card 2 and so holds all the cards 2 immovable together, as each card engages an adjacent card by means of the folded parts. The folded part of the last card engages with the rim 11 of the carrier 1. Thecards are so held in the carrier by the bar 7 that it is not possible for them to fall out. A slot 19 gives the bar 7 a fork like form at its farther end. This slot 19 engages with a rivet 20 so that sideways movement of the bar, when in its operative position, is prevented.

Cards 50, as shown in Figures 13 to 16, can be used in the index in place of the cards 2.

The space between the rim 11 and the bottom of the carrier 1 can be filled in except for a slot into which the bar '7 can pass and the sideways movement of the bar prevented in this manner.

The lockingmember 18 is provided with indentations 21 along its forward edge so that projecting tongues 22 result. The indentations 21 are so situated that on engagement of the locking member with the first card, the locking member does not press against the staples 4, but only enters the parts lying between the staples. This is illustrated in Figure 3 in. which the card is shown in broken lines.

To facilitate the operation of the locking member, finger holes 23 are provided. The locking member is further provided along part of its length with side projections 24, which extend under the rims 8 and 9 and so hold the locking member slidable in the card carrier. Another projection 25, provided on the locking member, operates in conjunction with holes 26 in the bar '7. The holes 26 are arranged in such positions that when one card is removed and the locking member slidden forward, the projection 25 engages with the next hole 26 and so holds the locking member in a fixed position. The bar '7 is provided at its forward end with a rolled portion 2'7, which can enter a space 28 so formed in the rod 14, that the rolled portion 27 in effect becomes a part of the rod 14. A sleeve 29 is slidably mounted on the rod 14 and it can be drawn into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3. In this position, it engages the rolled portion 27 of the bar 7 and so prevents any undesired forward or upward movement of the bar. The sleeve 29 is provided with a rim 30 to facilitate its operation by hand. The bar '7 is provided with graduations 36 from which it is always possible to ascertain how many cards have been freed by a withdrawal of the bar. The last card 2a may be strengthened by a plate 31, as shown in Figure 9, in order to cover up the unevennesses of the locking member, so that an even writing support may be obtained for each card.

Instead of providing a special plate, as shown in Figure 9, the locking member may be provided with a flap 37 (Figures 5 and 6) and thus be given a smooth upper surface. The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 is provided with movably mounted tongues 38 for engaging the cards between the staples 4, so that by withdrawing the tongues a card may be removed Without displacing the locking member. For this purpose, each tongue 38 is provided with the male part 39 of a press stud which works in conjunction with corresponding female parts 40 fixed on the locking member 18. The parts 40 are so spaced from one another that for the purpose of withdrawing a card, the tongues 38 are shifted so that the part 39 can engage with the next part 40 and the tongue then held fast by pressing the part 39 into the part 40. Figure '7 shows a cross section through a card carrier with a modification of a locking member. The locking member 18 is provided with a depression 32 of such a size that it can receive the bar '7. Consequently, the upper edge of the bar '7 is on a level with the upper edge of the locking member 16 so that a smooth surface is formed. The locking member 18 engages by means of lugs 24 under the lateral guiding members 8, 9 and is thereby guided in the card carrier.

In order to ensure a good guiding of the bar in the depression 32, the depression may be deeper than the thickness of the bar and tongues may be bent out of the locking member which extend over the bar and thereby prevent the same from moving out of the depression 32. This has the advantage that the lowest cards can be easily written on without difficulty. In this construction, it is preferable to make the forward end of the locking member which engages the cards osoillatable, in order to facilitate the manual operation.

In many cases, where the space in which the file is situated is limited, trouble is experienced in Withdrawing the bar account of its length. According to the invention, this difficulty may be overcome by constructing the bar in the manner shown in Figure 8. It is divided into parts and provided with a joint 33 which holds the two parts together. In consequence, it is possible to raise a part of the bar upwards as it is withdrawn, so that it takes up less space in the longitudinal direction of the card carrier. In the modification of the card shown in Figure 10, the slot 6 is of rectangular form, as already mentioned. In order to strengthen the weak side edges, flaps 34 are punched out and bent over sideways and changed so as to strengthen the weak edges of the slot, and prevent them from being cut by the bar as it slides through the slot. The strengthening can be further increased, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, by fixing special clips 35 on the edges so they are protected against any probable damage otherwise likely to be incurred.

In the card 50, the lower end is doubly folded in such a manner that the free end 51 projects beyond the rear edge 52 of the card 50. The folded part 53 is connected with the folded part 54 and withthe card 56 by fastening staples 55, l

and has its corners so trimmed that the projectingpart 51 which is narrower than the rest of the card, can engage an adjacent card between the two fastening staples 55 without knocking against them. When the cards are arranged in T a holder, the part 51 lies between the folded part 54 and the main part of an adjacentcard. The length of the part 51 thus determines exactly the spacing of the cards and so facilitates inspection 7 of them.

A pocket which is open at the back is formed by the lower folded part 53 and the other folded part 54 and at its sides by the fastening staples 55. As shown in Figure 16, the bent ends 56 of additional sheets 57 can be inserted in this pocket. It is thus possible, when one card has been filled up with writing, to add additional sheets without interfering with the inspection of the already written sheets in any way whatsoever.

In the lower edge 52 of the card, a slot 6 is pro .vided through which the bar '7 can slide in the same way as described with reference to the card 2.

I claim:

1. A card index including a card carrier, a' plurality of cards in the carrier each of the cards being provided with a folded portion, the rear being provided with a slot which is situated at the creased part thereof, and a movable bar insertable from the front end of the card carrier into the card carrier and through the slots in the folded parts of the card for retaining the cards in the carrier.

2. A card index according to claim 1, wherein means is provided on the card carrier for guiding the movable bar.

3. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the bar is provided with an opening and a pin mounted on the carrier and projecting through said opening to effect guiding of the bar.

4. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the bar is movably mounted on the card locking member.

5. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a connection is provided between the locking member and the bar and is constructed so that the free end of the locking member, which engages the folded part of the first card, can be raised independently of the bar.

6. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a rim is provided at the far end of the carrier under which the bar is inserted through the cards, is engaged when in its operative position, and secured in this position.

'7. A card index according to claim 1, wherein means are provided on the card carrier which operate in conjunction with the end of the bar which is inserted through the cards for retaining the bar in its operative position.

8. A card index according to claim 1, wherein locking means is provided for connecting the card locking member to the bar.

9. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is provided with a pin and the bar with holes, which are spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of the cards, so that on the engagement of the pin with one of the holes the locking member becomes fixed in position.

10. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a cover plate is provided for the bar and cards and is hingedly mounted on the inner end of the carrier.

11. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is provided with a depression and wherein the bar is arranged in the depression in such a manner that an even upper surface is obtained.

12. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is provided by stamping with a depression for receiving the bar.

13. A'card index according to claim 1, wherein a locking means is slidably mounted on the card carrier and a connection between the locking means and the bar for movably holding them in position.

14. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the slidable bar is provided with graduations corresponding to the distances between the cards so that at any time the number of cards released by a withdrawal of the bar may be ascertained.

15. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the bar is provided with a hinged joint whereby it can be folded longitudinally.

16. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the slot in the card through which the retaining bar passes extends to both sides of the crease and is rectangular.

17. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the slots in the cards are reinforced along their narrow sides.

18. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcement is provided by folding back the flaps obtained when the rectangular hole 1 is stamped out.

19. A card index according to claim 1, wherein reinforcements of the narrow sides of the slots are provided in the form of insertions made of sheet metal.

20. A card index according to claim 1, wherein each card is doubly folded to provide a pocket situated between the lower folded part and the middle folded part and adapted to receive the folded ends of additional sheets.

21. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a tongue is provided on the card carrier, and means secured to the tongue for guiding the bar in the card carrier.

22. A card index according to claim 1, wherein a tongue for guiding the bar is provided on the locking member.

23. A card index according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a tongue for guiding the bar which consists of one piece with the locking member and is formed by being stamped out of same.

24. A card index according to claim 1, wherein guide members are provided along the sides of the carrier for preventing a lateral movement of the cuds and there engage between the said members the folded parts of the cards which are narrower than the main part of the cards which bears with its sides on the guide members.

25. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the folded part of each of the cards is folded several times and means for binding the folded parts together preferably adjacent the side edges thereof. 7

26. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the forwardly projecting folded part is narrower than the remaining part of the card, said folded part forming a pocket which receives the forwardly projecting folded part of the adjacent card.

27. A card index according to claim 1, wherein the cards are arranged behind one another in the card carrier and cooperate with their rear edge with the following edge in such a manner that the distance of the cards from each other is regulated, and means provided in front of the rear edge of each card for holding additional sheets. ERNA THIEME, GEB. OVERI-IOFF. 

